HB491 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Allen TreadawayRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Firefighters, death or disability for occupational disease for firefighters, no time limitation upon filing a claim for disability benefits, may resubmit claims under certain conditions, Secs. 11-43-144, 36-30-5 am'd.

Summary

HB491 would remove time limits for filing firefighter disability and death benefits (with some exceptions), allow previously denied claims to be resubmitted, and apply specific disease presumptions to protect firefighters and their families.

What This Bill Does

The bill eliminates time limits for filing disability or death claims by firefighters and their families, with an exception if a claim is filed more than 10 years after the last day of employment. It allows someone who was denied benefits because they filed after leaving the city to resubmit under the amended rules without regard to previous time limits. It creates presumptions that certain diseases (cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and respiratory disease) are related to firefighting, with the city able to rebut these presumptions in some cases, and it covers AIDS and Hepatitis if exposure occurred on the job. If a claim is filed more than 10 years after employment ends, the rule about disqualifying non-occupational causes changes, and the claimant must still show the disability or death was caused by occupational disease during service.

Who It Affects

• Firefighters and their families would gain no-time-limit access to disability and death benefits, plus the ability to resubmit previously denied claims, improving eligibility and potential compensation.
• Municipalities (cities) would be responsible for handling claims under the new rules, including applying disease presumptions and proving non-occupational causes for certain illnesses, potentially affecting benefit determinations.

Key Provisions

• No time limit for filing disability or death claims for firefighters or their families, with a 10-year post-employment exception related to certain provisions.
• Claimants previously denied for submitting claims after leaving employment may resubmit under the amended terms without regard to time limits.
• Presumptions that certain diseases (cancer, heart disease, hypertension, respiratory disease) are occupational unless the city proves otherwise; AIDS and Hepatitis are covered if exposure occurred in the line of duty.
• If a claim is filed more than 10 years after last day of employment, the non-occupational disqualification rule (for some diseases) may not apply, and the claimant must show the disability or death was caused by occupational disease during service.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Firefighters